Posted on 06/24/2014 9:10:17 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee
Yes, the Iraq War was a disaster of historic proportions. Yes, seeing its architects return to prime time to smugly slam President Obama while taking no responsibility for their own, far greater, failures is infuriating.
But sooner or later, honest liberals will have to admit that Obama’s Iraq policy has been a disaster. Since the president took office, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has grown ever more tyrannical and ever more sectarian, driving his country’s Sunnis toward revolt. Since Obama took office, Iraq watchers—including those within his own administration—have warned that unless the United States pushed hard for inclusive government, the country would slide back into civil war. Yet the White House has been so eager to put Iraq in America’s rearview mirror that, publicly at least, it has given Maliki an almost-free pass. Until now, when it may be too late.
Obama inherited an Iraq where better security had created an opportunity for better government. The Bush administration’s troop “surge” did not solve the country’s underlying divisions. But by retaking Sunni areas from insurgents, it gave Iraq’s politicians the chance to forge a government inclusive enough to keep the country together. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
They were related by the threat that Iran would move into the vacuum. It ain't all about progressivism.
And it is not always about state governments. Religion and ethnicity was the key. Always has been in the middle east. The Shiites already had the south and more then half of Baghdad. Whether it would have been a proxy for Iran or a province of Iran or a completely independent state next to Iran is immaterial. The people themselves would have decided.
Given that it was global fuel prices that triggered the mortgage meltdown, no, it's not immaterial.
Bottom line is the idiotic US state department (John Kerry) just asked the Kurd's to shed blood to keep Iraq together. Is he doing that for the US dollar ? US gold reserves ? Oil ? Heck the Kurd's are pumping like crazy and are effectively defending Kurdistan. Why rock the boat ?
Learn how to read.
Is he doing that for the US dollar ? US gold reserves ? Oil ?
When George Bush declared his intent to invade Iraq, it was within days of Saddam declaring his intent to trade his oil in Euros. You decide what the loss of reserve currency status would mean to the United States in the race to retain the power to print money without consequence.
it was within days of Saddam declaring his intent to trade his oil in Euros.
He was also trying to organize an Oil Embargo. About all he could really do as a defiant gesture, seeing that we had a no fly zone enforced over large sections of his country. He did attack the Kurd's though while under the no fly zone. But that was a domestic issue for the farce of a nation called Iraq.
Very few Americans died as a result of going after Saddam because they died in the days, weeks, months, and years after Saddam was dead? Solid reasoning.
If the goal was to knock off Saddam and sons, they should have assassinated him and been done with it.
Wanting to prevent the needless deaths and maimings of America’s kids is now a progressive talking point?
Bush screwed up and Obama continues to screw up.
Stupid libs can’t admit it about Obama. Sadly, some self-professed Conservatives can’t admit that Bush screwed up.
They tried assassination in Syria. It failed numerous times. Assad is still there and is now helping Iraq by flying air missions on ISIS.
Wanting to prevent the needless deaths and maimings of America’s kids is now a progressive talking point?
Nope. Linking removing Saddam with the deaths that occurred over many years of an insurgency, while we hopelessly tried to save the jigsaw puzzle Iraqi nation, is a progressive talking point. Has been for about 7 years. Removing Saddam and Sons costs very few US life's.
Bush screwed up and Obama continues to screw up.
He definitely should not have tried to keep the Iraq nation together, if he was not going to act like Saddam. Perhaps he felt introducing democracy to the Islamists in the region was worth the gamble. Did not agree with that myself and I pulled my support for him during his last two years, but his removal of Saddam was a grand success. Superb military invasion plan.
Obama has done the worse things possible. Every progressive always does. Like clockwork.
Stupid libs can’t admit it about Obama. Sadly, some self-professed Conservatives can’t admit that Bush screwed up.
Just did, but that was not the subject of your incorrect progressive talking point.
If the goal was truly to remove Saddam, they could have gotten out in a hurry. Instead, they stayed.
As a result, tens of thousands of American families have been mortally wounded. Their intentions may have been good, but the results for us is abysmal.
Yes, that I agree with. They had more intentions then just removing Saddam, which is a shame.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.